RN22e: Presenting the Vision of High-performance EV
6 minute read
Carbon neutrality is a challenge for humanity - but what should the future of high-performance cars look like? The vision of a high-performance electric vehicle lies in RN22e, which contains all of the N brand's technology and philosophy.
The demand for carbon neutrality for a sustainable future is growing day by day, and many car makers are joining in. New electric vehicles are being unveiled every year, and sales are growing rapidly. However, there are those who are concerned about the rise of electric vehicles - enthusiasts doubt whether electric vehicles can deliver the exhilaration and emotion that a high-performance internal combustion engine can offer.
As our N brand aims to build an 'everyday sports car' with dynamic cornering capabilities as well as racetrack capability, N is moving forward by minimizing car enthusiasts’ concerns. Even in the electric era, the N brand pursues the exhilarating pleasures of high-performance cars and is pouring its energy into developing the brand’s 3 product pillars: Corner Rascal, Race Track Capability, Everyday Sports car.
The RN22e shows how our N brand is maintaining the fun of driving in a high-performance electric vehicle, and will be unveiled next year.
RN22e: Rolling lab that
combined motorsport
technology with E-GMP
The RN22e is the next-generation Rolling lab series following the RM project, which started in 2012. The Rolling lab tests and verifies high-performance technology inspired by motorsports such as WRC, WTCR, and ETCR before incorporating this technology into mass-produced N models. This has served as a steppingstone for car makers when it comes to mass-producing advanced high-performance technologies. Examples of high-performance technologies perfected by the RM project includes E-LSD, 8-speed wet N DCT, and rear spoiler - housed by several current N models such as VELOSTER N, KONA N, and ELANTRA N.
The RM project has been the foundation for developing high-performance N models since its establishment in 2012.
The RN22e is the latest work of Rolling lab, a future of high-performance car research and development project.
In 2014, the RM Project began to draw attention with its first prototype, the RM14. The RM – Racing Midship – means the most suitable configuration for sports driving. The project has since released the RM15, RM16, RM19. Then the first electrified prototype RM20e was showcased in 2020, and continued to use the original code name.
This year, the N brand announced its electric vision along with the renewal of Rolling lab series: RN22e. The name ‘RM’ changed into the ‘RN’ project by combining the 'R' of the Rolling lab and the 'N' of the N brand. The number indicates the year of manufacture, and the alphabet 'e' indicates electric technology.
You can tell that the RN22e is different from the other RM project. Unlike the RM20e, which has a midship structure that housed electric technology for the first time, RN22e is based on E-GMP, the Hyundai’s electric global modular platform that incorporates technologies such as 800V high voltage system and front wheel's EV transmission disconnector technology. RN22e is also incorporated with all the high-performance know-hows from the past RM project.
This is how RN22e became the first Rolling lab to feature all-wheel drive with front and rear electric motors that harnesses powerful performance. Also, unlike the VELOSTER's face, which was common to current RM projects, the RN22e has the looks of Hyundai's second dedicated electric vehicle, the IONIQ 6.
The RN22e is the first rolling lab based on E-GMP, Hyundai’s dedicated electric vehicle platform.
The RN22e also used the body of the IONIQ 6 to take advantage of its aerodynamic performance. IONIQ 6 with its sleek and streamlined design is not only the best among all Hyundai models, but also shows the most ideal aerodynamic performance (CD 0.218) among its mass-produced models.
And based on the design of the IONIQ 6 with optimal aerodynamic performance, the RN22e is supported by an ideal aerodynamic design, such as wheel air curtains, a rear spoiler as wide as the vehicle width, and a huge rear diffuser. This makes it possible to concentrate on the software development that can control the electric powertrain while driving at the limit.
The RN22e has advanced torque vectoring technology housed on the rear wheel, which is the main drive shaft.
The RN22e even drifts, based on the N brand's first all-wheel drive.
What’s more, the RN22e houses know-how from different aspects. The experience from ETCR (Electric Touring Car Race) motorsports collects data about EV driving under harsh condition, and the past RM project gives know-how on how to test and develop the motorsport-inspired technology.
Finally, the E-GMP developed through IONIQ 5 & 6 means that the RN22e concentrates on developing cutting-edge technology. This means that the RN22e is not only equipped with a powerful electric motor and large capacity battery but is being used to develop a high-performance electric vehicle from the beginning of its development. This shows the N brand's willingness to provide driving pleasure with the three pillars – Corner Rascal, Race Track Capability, and Everyday Sports Cars – even in the electric era.
RN22e: A high-performance electric vehicle that offers a new level of cornering performance
The RN22e, equipped with the N brand's first four-wheel drive system, utilizes electric motors mounted one at the front and the other at the rear wheel. The maximum output of the electric motor is 160kW at the front and 270kW at the rear, making a total output of 430kW (about 580 horsepower), and the maximum torque is 740Nm (about 75.5kgf·m). As a result, the vehicle can offer an exhilarating cornering experience.
The RN22e utilizes the front-wheel EV transmission disconnector technology, one of the E-GMP-specific technologies that allows power distribution on the front/rear. This power distribution technology is further developed with the know-how from WRC, where four-wheel drive rally cars get to drive in harsh conditions. As a result, this technology quickly switches between four-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive by disconnecting the front-wheel motor according to the driving situation, enabling driving thrill.
The RN22e utilizes E-GMP with its low center of gravity and front-to-rear weight distribution design mean it can offer dynamic cornering performance.
The RN22e also houses other advanced technologies – not just in the front and rear drive power distribution, but also the drive power of the main drive shaft, the rear wheel, to the left and right. It is a torque vectoring (e-TVTC) technology that distributes driving force to the left and right rear wheels while attaching and detaching the twin clutch of the rear electric motor.
The e-TVTC can send all the driving power to one of the left and right rear wheels, offering effects of what e-LSD does in combination with the internal combustion engine N models. e-TVTC properly and promptly distributes the driving power to the left and right wheels when cornering, helping the driver to get out of corners more dramatically.
With this torque vectoring technology, the RN22e overcomes the physical limit of electric vehicles, which tend to understeer out of corners due to its weight and makes driving performance more dynamic. In addition, when the twin clutch of the rear wheel is disconnected, inertia driving is possible, which increases efficiency. RN22e's e-TVTC will continue to develop software in various driving environments in the future, increasing its completeness.
The RN22e has been developed with a focus on cooling and aerodynamics for maximum performance on the track.
Thanks to E-GMP’s low center of gravity by placing the heavy front/rear electric motors and batteries on the bottom of the vehicle, it ideally distributes the front and rear weights. What’s more, the E-GMP uses a WRC-inspired IDA (Integrated Drive Axle that combines the drive shaft and the wheel bearing) to reduce weight and increase lateral stiffness. Moreover, it uses a roll cage and a separate rear partition panel to enhance body rigidity and uses 3D printed aluminum parts achieved lighter weight. As a result, RN22e ultimately overcomes the physical limit of EVs and supports the cornering performance of RN22e.
The RN22e features battery pre-conditioning function to
maintain battery performance before and after track driving.
The racetrack capability of RN22e for endless driving pleasure
One of the R&D objectives of the RN22e as a Rolling lab is to enhance its cooling and aerodynamic performance. As commonly known for the high-performance cars, the aerodynamics greatly affects driving stability, fuel efficiency, and noise. It is also important to properly control the heat generated by the internal combustion engine.
Likewise, electric vehicles also need to shape the driving wind to their advantage and use air and coolant to manage the heat in the battery, especially for high-performance EVs that push themselves to the limits. The RN22e’s EV specific cooling system is developed with the know-how that Hyundai has accumulated over years of motorsport with VELOSTER N ETCR and with RM20e, the previous electrified Rolling lab. RN22e will continue to update its aerodynamic performance data through motorsport.
RN22e delivers the sound of a high-performance car that stimulates the driver's emotions that is suitable for electric vehicles.
The RN22e's brake system is capable of withstanding driving at the limit on the track.
In particular, the cooling design plays an important role for RN22e to ensure that the drivers enjoy longer track driving. Knowing that battery temperature hugely affects EV’s performance, the battery pre-conditioning function is housed in the RN22e to optimize battery condition before and after entering the track for maximum performance. It raises the battery temperature to the optimal level to maximize performance before entering the track, and lowers the battery temperature after track driving to enable fast charging using E-GMP's 800V high voltage system.
As a result, the RN22e charges a 77.4 kWh battery from 10% to 80% in only 18 minutes. And, for more efficient battery thermal management, the electric motor and battery have independent cooling systems, and a wider front intake improves cooling performance.
Another key for RN22e’s consistent performance on the racetrack is the braking performance. In general, electric vehicles are heavier than internal combustion engines because of their heavy batteries, hence bigger inertia. If such a heavy vehicle suddenly brakes just before entering a corner, the load on the brake system increases due to the increased kinetic energy. Then, not only will it become difficult to mark the ideal record, but it could also cause brake fade, a sharp decrease in braking ability.
To prevent this, the RN22e uses high-performance friction material pads that are used in the N model: 4-piston monobloc calipers, and 400mm hybrid discs. In addition, the N brand is developing a regen braking technology optimized for high-performance electric vehicles so that it can attack corners faster and more aggressively.
The RN22e utilizes the exterior design of the IONIQ 6 optimized for aerodynamic performance.
RN22e: A high-performance electric car that makes everyday life exhilarating
The RN22e is not only packed with technology that offers dynamic performance on the racetrack, but also makes everyday life enjoyable and exhilarating - like a sound system. Sound is an emotional domain that high-performance cars stimulate the driver's emotions, but it is difficult for electric vehicles without engine and exhaust sounds to provide such sensibility. The N brand, which pursues the pure pleasure of driving, uses the N Sound Plus function in the RN22e so that drivers can enjoy the driving experience according to their taste and atmosphere.
Currently, the RN22e has implemented a sound that embodies the emotion of a high-performance internal combustion engine, and the N e-shift function delivers a sense of shift that matches the sound of a high-performance car through vibration. The N Sound Plus will continuously be developed to suit the tastes of various drivers, and will provide a new driving experience in the mass-produced model.
The RN22e was developed for optimal performance in variety of driving environments on and off the track.
In addition to the e-TVTC, another advanced technology Hyundai is developing the smart leveling suspension system with the RN22e. The goal is to enable both daily comfort and dynamic driving on the track by using the concept of air suspension, which is used to make a comfortable ride for luxury cars.
RN22e can lift the car body to prevent damage to the underside when passing ramps and speed bumps, which are often encountered in everyday life, and can lower the car body to improve aerodynamic performance by lowering the center of gravity on the track. It is being developed to provide performance suitable for various driving environments by adjusting not only the height but also the compression and rebound of the suspension.
The RN22e shows the vision of the N brand
The new technologies featured by the RN22e are expected to be housed in the high-performance electrified N model, and will be released in 2023 after being tested and verified several times on the road. Of course, as we have done so far, various new technologies such as driving performance, durability, and safety developed through this process may be used in general mass-produced models as well.
Not all technologies researched and developed through the Rolling lab necessarily lead to mass production, but it is good just to imagine that the thrill of driving can continue in the future electric vehicle era. The N brand knows this better than anyone and will never give up its effort and passion for driving pleasure.
Check out @hyundai and @hyundai_n_worldwide on Instagram to find out more about our N models and how we’re shaping the future of driving.
The RN22e holds a clue to the high-performance electrified N model to be launched in 2023